By Geselle Martinez |Staff Writer|
The Short Necked Giraffes are bringing the high-energy sound of ska to new and exciting heights.
The Rancho Cucamonga band has played with some well-known groups such as Korn, The Dead Kennedys and Shiny Toy Guns.
The Short Necked Giraffes have been consistently performing and recording since 2006.
“We started as a pop punk band in the summer of 2006,” said the band. “In the summer of 2011 we brought on the horn players and began playing ska.”
The band is made up of seven musicians, four of which are CSUSB music majors: Mario on guitar and vocals, Dirty Joe on the Bass, Ben on drums, Sweet Lips (aka Cory Peters) on trumpet, Suitcase Johnson (aka Edgar Melendez) on the alto sax, Kevin Peters playing the trombone, Avelino Aquino on the trombone and Brian Seymour on the tenor sax.
“When the band first began, we started it to pass time and jam together,” said the band, “We now play for the joy of performing and sharing our music/talent with others. We also have a hope of being a signed band on day.”
Some of the band’s influences include Green Day, Reel Big Fish, Less than Jake, Sublime and The Offspring.
“We are all inspired by our love and passion for music and performing,” said the band. “Also, the great musicians that have come before us have inspired us to continue to practice and get better at our trade.”
The music is catchy, upbeat and different from usual punk music. It wakes you up and forces you to bob your head to the music. You can’t help but enjoy it.
The lyrics avoid anything too deep or personal and are more playful and fun. The combination of the guitars, drums, trumpet and horn is nothing short of imposing.
“My Friends’ Band” is a jumpy and fun song that may or may not be about their own band. When you’re stuck in traffic, this is the song you want to listen to.
The Short Necked Giraffes have played at large venues such as the Queen Mary, Orange County Fair Grounds, the Whiskey A Go-Go, The Wheelhouse, The Glass House, The Hudson Theatre and many more.
The Short Necked Giraffes manage themselves and write their own songs. All of the members help out with writing the compositions and tweaking the segments.
“The overall goal of our music is to keep this genre alive and show people how amazing it is,” said the band, “We would love to share our songs with the world, get ska to be a big thing again.”
For those of you who think Ska is dying out, think again, because The Short Necked Giraffes are here and breathing life back into the genre.
Photos Courtesy of the Short Necked Giraffes
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